Discover The "Better Than" Food Plan For Weight Loss

So many of us have tried and failed at weight loss. I know in the past when I have tried to lose weight, it often backfired. Yep, I would actually gain weight while trying to lose it. Nothing feels more defeating than that, let me tell you.

I finally figured out that dieting simply doesn’t work. Then I started wondering why. Being a nutritionist and weight loss expert, as well as a wellness coach led me to some pretty interesting answers.

* Deprivation leads to bingeing
* Calorie restriction leads to a sluggish metabolism, followed by weight gain
* Artificial sweeteners lead to excessive hunger
* Over-exercising results in inflammation and weight gain.
* Cutting out entire food groups (grains or fats usually) causes nutrient deficiencies and cravings

When you have a diet plan that asks you to restrict your calories, you feel deprived. If you are rebellious, like I am, when someone tells me I can’t have something I want it even more!

Desiring something sweet often leads to artificial sweeteners while trying to avoid calories. Those are shown in scientific studies to lead to excessive hunger. Over-exercising to burn more calories leads to more than just sore muscles. Watch out for inflamed joints and even weight gain. Nutrients in a variety of foods are necessary for good health, so eliminating them completely from your diet will lead to deficiencies over time.

Some experts think nutritional deficiencies lead to cravings and binge eating. I suggest a whole food vitamin and mineral supplement for "insurance."

So what constitutes a good all-around diet, one for a life-time, not just a quick fix to get off excess pounds? Here’s my take on that question.

• Eat the rainbow everyday. This means you will be eating lots of vegetables and fruits. If you are diabetic, limit fruit to 3 or less a day to avoid excess blood sugar spikes
• When eating grains, make them whole grains without flour. Steel-cut oats are a favorite. Ezekiel bread, made with sprouted grains is another I recommend to clients.
• Fats are important, so be sure to get those everyday. Fatty fish like sardines or salmon are good choices. So is avocado. Coconut oil is no longer considered a bad fat, due to its chemical composition. Lose your fear of eggs, the fat they contain is healthy too. Nuts are full of healthy fat and can be eaten for quick snacks.
• Protein is important, so eat it regularly throughout the day. Our body doesn’t store protein. It is used for repair or converted into sugar or fat for energy. Small portions throughout the day keeps us happy.
• Exercise in moderation utilizing walking, strength training and stretching. Allow time to build up to a level of fitness that’s right for you. Avoid injuries by learning proper form.

Overall, the best thing you can do if you want to stay at a healthy weight is to find a plan that works for you as a lifestyle, not a simple fix.

Sandi Thompson, BA, NTP and certified wellness coach is an expert in weight management education. Studying holistic health and nutrition since the early 1980s she motivates and coaches participants in her programs toward excellent health. For more than 30 years, she has modeled nutritional excellence and taught real food skills to hundreds of eager participants. Her greatest successes are with women 50 + who struggle to lose weight.

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Comments

[Tim Guffey]

Denise, I enjoyed reading your post. This is in my niche for blogging as well.

Thanks,
Tim

[iPhone4 case]

Thank you for this wonderful article. Actually I have never thought this ever before. And the fact that really matters is every little thing we do is equivalent of huge prospective. I will visit your site again soon. Can you provide more thoughts and ideas here in your article?

[Jan]

I too am not one that likes to be deprived of the things I like. I quit dieting and started eating better foods and found not only did I lose weight, I was also less hungry. Love avocados and use them in salads and sandwiches all the time.
I am now over 50 and it's tough sometimes to eat all the right foods as well as exercise to maintain my weight. I know mindset is definetly an area that I have to be very conscious of or I will fall back into that same trap of eating to much and ignoring my exercise routine. Thanks again for a great post, am looking forward to more. Jan

[dietdelight]

True it is hard to exercise sometimes. Exercise seems like a job. With all we have to do somedays, it seems kind of hard to find time. I also found a diet cookbook that helps. Click on dietdelight

[Drink Water Lose Weight]

Thanks for the great article, it really has added value to my day and my life. I will visit your website from now on (I'v even bookmarked it).

[Jon R. Patrick]

Personally, I've decided to go with the 90-day Body by Vi Challenge. Great shakes, supplements, and you can get your next month's FREE! Just ask me how. What sold me was the amazing testimonials I saw on this - it really, really works. Thousands of success stories, over 2 million pounds lost - and you automatically get your own website to track your progress and socialize with others to share stories. I've struggled for years, eating better, walking more - but I'm fighting against the 8-12 hours a day I sit for my job.

[how to get skinny fast]

This is so true. Losing weight doesn't actually need to be as dificult as a lot of people make it. As long as you have a fairly healthy diet and do regular exercise you can lose weight safe and healthily.

I actually wrote a blog post about the dangers of crash dieting the other day because i think it's very important to teach people, especially the younger generation, that going on crazy diets is just not good for you at all and a lot of the time ends up with people yo-yo dieting for years.

[Melissa]

This is a great post. Thanks for the information. I did not know that about artificial sweetners.

[Vera @ HCG EZ trim]

As you said above if we plan our diet we can reduce our weight.

Vera

[Alberto]

To effectively lose weight and burn fat requires I believe, a strong mindset to stick to whatever program you on. No matter what weight loss program you get into it will have to boil down to some sort of food reduction and being consistence with it in order to be effective. Even exercise would be considered secondary. Think about it for a moment. Is it not the bad unhealthy food the cause of people being fat and overweight? Change the way you eat, couple by a safe exercise program, and you will change your physique. Not all diets and weight loss program works well for everybody. So, you going to have to find one that works for you. I agree with the above article in regards to diets and metabolism. We should stay away from strict diets and be eating in small portion every so often to increase and maintain a good metabolism. And don't be afraid to experience and modify your diet alittle. Sometimes we can turn a strict or not so tasty diet into something one that works...one that tastes good and not going to starve us to death.